The unusual coaching career of Jimmy Brumbaugh has entered the recycling phase.
The former short-term Tennessee defensive line coach, fired by Jeremy Pruitt in the middle of a game last season, is a new analyst at the University of Oregon.
Jimmy Brumbaugh
Brumbaugh is likely to earn restoration as a coach on the field soon after severance pay from UT runs out. His contract called for $830,000 from the Volunteers.
This would be a path much like Butch Jones followed at Alabama. Tennessee invested millions instead of thousands in his recovery and restart.
Brumbaugh suffered an incredible decline from a sure thing for the Vols to unemployed. He was hired in February 2020 based on almost three decades as a successful player and coach.
He played at Auburn, for the Birmingham Bolts in the XFL and the Georgia Force in arena football. He coached at UT-Chattanooga, LSU, Louisiana Tech, Syracuse, East Mississippi Community College, Kentucky, Maryland and Colorado on his way to Tennessee.
“He’s a great teacher and motivator,” Pruitt said of Brumbaugh in announcing him as co-defensive coordinator.
“You kind of know what you’re getting in him every single day. You could see it when I’ve sat in meetings with him with how he teaches.
“I think he’s really hands-on, and he brings a lot of knowledge at that position, having played that position. He really is the style of defensive line coach that we’re looking for.
“When we had the job come open, we didn’t interview anybody else. We didn’t interview him. We just offered him the job, and he came.”
Four words in the previous paragraph – “We didn’t interview him” – turned out to be pivotal.
Pruitt simply accepted the recommendation of defensive coordinator Derrick Ansley. He and Brumbaugh were old friends.
Surprises followed. Pruitt and Brumbaugh began disagreeing early in the season. Their difference of opinion peaked during the 34-7 loss to Kentucky, fourth game last season. Several players supposedly heard what was said in a declaration or a debate.
The day after, Pruitt explained the shocking move, that Brumbaugh wasn’t a good fit from a “philosophical standpoint.”
Timing? Pruitt said: “If it’s not working out, it’s better just to do it right now. This is no knock whatsoever on Jimmy as a coach. He’s one of the most knowledgeable coaches I’ve been around, and he’ll do a good job wherever he goes. It was just something I felt like we needed to do, and we did it.”
The head coach did not go in search of a replacement. Pruitt assumed responsibility for the defensive line. Let the record show it did not perform any better for the boss than it did for the co-defensive coordinator.
Brumbaugh is almost certain to be more comfortable at Oregon.
Coach of the Ducks is Mario Cristobal. He was fired once, at Florida International. For six weeks, he had a job as associate head coach at Miami. Nick Saban offered a better deal, assistant head coach, offensive line coach and recruiting coordinator at Alabama. All those titles justified more money.
After that, Oregon offered more.
Marvin West welcomes questions or comments from readers. His address is marvinwest75@gmail.com